Chapter 37 #3
“That fight caused a distraction which ended in the death of the only people who have ever loved me!” I roared, all of the pain, heartache and anguish I’d kept buried for so long bursting from me in a fit of pure rage.
“They died at the hands of a traitor who only managed to outmanoeuvre them because they’d been focused on dealing with the bloodsuckers.
And for what? Why were your people there that night?
Just looking to cause bloodshed and feed their sordid desires. ”
My hold on the ether sharpened with my fury and I squeezed the cut on my fingertip, offering my blood to the potent power of all that was so that it would aid me in my moment of desperate need.
Power surged through my limbs and I ripped the ropes at my back apart, lunging from my seat and throwing my fist into the face of the startled Vampire before he could so much as think to shoot out of range.
Flames sprung up between us before I could further my attack, the ropes at my ankles tripping me so that I stumbled backwards.
Bastian bellowed my name but all I could hear were my sisters in their dying moments.
I bent to rip the ropes from my ankles but before I could complete the task, vines shot at me through the flames, coiling me in their hold and hurling me back down into the chair.
The flames fell away and Lazarus shot forward, baring his fangs at me in warning.
Mirelle cursed me, demanding once again that they just take my head but Lazarus held a hand out to her so that he might speak.
“We were there to seek out the eschaton star and try to destroy it,” he snarled.
“You and your sisters stood between us and it. At that time we had no alliance with any people of The Waning Lands and our desperate need to end this threat to us all led to an act which was foolish in hindsight. We hadn’t learned of the ley lines being redirected then, we hadn’t realised the folly of trying to vanquish it while that power still fed it. We know better now.”
He swiped a hand over his face, banishing his own anger far more quickly than I was able to banish mine.
“But if it means anything to you then I am sorry,” he said earnestly. “We were only there for the eschaton star. And now that we have learned of the ley lines’ power being redirected and what you have been doing to repair that damage, we understand what needs to be done next.”
“And what is that?” Bastian asked.
“Firstly, we want to offer you our assistance in reaching the remaining keystones. We understand that they need to be repaired but no one in Effelridge practices the dark arts beyond simple runes. We are not learned in ether and cannot replicate what you have done with the other keystones to repair whatever foul work has been done upon them to feed the power of those fallen in battle to the eschaton star instead of allowing it to return to the land as it should. To put it simply; we need you.”
“So that’s all, is it? You want me to ally myself with Vampires and the people of Pyros, betraying my homeland and making myself a traitor in the process simply because you asked nicely?” I sneered.
“It is because the world is in peril. Are you so spoiled from your life of pampering in Stormfell that you can’t think of anything beyond your own desires?” Mirelle asked icily and my gaze fixed on her once more.
“Spoiled?” The word came out as a bitter laugh. “If you think me spoiled then you really do know nothing about me.”
“We know you made friends with the Void because of this threat. Because both of you wanted to figure out what the Reapers were up to and wanted the monster gone,” the Wolf piped up, drawing my gaze to him where he lurked in the corner.
“Why is an alliance with a Cascadian acceptable to you in aid of this but not Pyros?”
My upper lip curled back as I tasted the bitter truth of that accusation. “We worked towards a common goal together. It was a cease fire. Not an alliance.”
“You liked her,” he accused, pointing at me.
“Kai told me. He watched you with her. Calcifiend showed him everything. You captured her on the battlefield and let her go again. Maybe you can convince yourself that working with her to uncover the secrets at Never Keep wasn’t treason but you know full well that allowing the Void to walk free definitely was. ”
“Fuck you,” I spat, bravado spilling from me in waves but inside my heart was caught in a vice.
The fucking Sayer Dragon. That little blue bastard had reported my treachery straight to my enemies.
I was done. When this information made it back to Stormfell they would butcher me for it.
And the worst thing was that it was the truth.
I’d held the Void in my grasp and let her go. I was a traitor.
“I think what my spectre means to ask is what’s in it for her?” Bastian said before they could respond to my outburst.
Lazarus glanced at Mirelle who hesitated a moment before nodding her agreement to whatever offer was simmering in his mind.
“Freedom,” he said simply and I couldn’t help but look to Bastian as that word hung in the air between all of us.
It was his one and only desire after all.
True freedom. “You will be welcome in Effelridge. You will be free of all obligation to Stormfell and Avanis. Free of obligation to any of the warring lands, in fact. You will be given a large house and the option to become whatever your heart desires – so long as you agree to live peacefully within our city and abide by the laws which unite us.”
“For both of us?” I clarified because I may have had little to no desire to make any kind of bargain for my wretched life, but maybe this was something I could secure for Bastian. He deserved to be free of Dragor and captivity, even if I didn’t.
“Yes,” Lazarus said without hesitation. “The offer is for both of you, of course.”
“Why?” I demanded. “You have explained plainly why you need me. I am the only Fae you know of who is both somewhat sympathetic to your cause and able to wield ether sufficiently to repair the keystones. But what is it you want from him?”
Again Mirelle and Lazarus shared a look, though this time it seemed they came to the decision to be less forthcoming.
“That is something we cannot tell you yet. But I assure you, we do not want you to fight or make war on our behalf. Our offer of freedom is genuine but there is a task a Dragon could perform for us if you were willing to do so. I can say that only a Dragon can do it. And we would not obligate you to agree. The offer of freedom is there regardless, we simply hope you would consider our request when the time comes for us to make it of you.”
I looked to Bastian whose silver-shot eyes were as filled with suspicion as mine but what choice did we have?
They held us captive and could do so indefinitely.
I might be able to break free of this place but I had no idea where we even were.
It certainly didn’t seem like we were in Avanis anymore. How long had we been unconscious?
“I planned to restore the keystones either way,” I said eventually, looking back to our captors, my distrust for them clear in my expression.
“But if you want to grant us a place in your wonderous Effelridge for something I was already going to do anyway, then fine. Who am I to turn down payment for simply going about my day?”
“Good,” Lazarus said, the relief in the room palpable. “Then you can set off at once. You will deal with the Cascadian keystone first.”
“I have business in Avanis,” I growled. “I won’t be deterred from it.”
“Don’t worry, little Sky Witch.” The Vampire smiled wickedly. “We won’t delay you from your murderous intentions. You’ll find yourself at Stone Castle far faster than you would have managed on foot, so long as you keep your promise to us.”
“How?” I asked in disbelief.
“I can show you. Assuming I have your word you won’t attempt violence if I release you?” Lazarus asked, eyeing me shrewdly.
“I swear it on every piece of kindness inside my empty heart,” I replied, my lips lifting in a taunt. But clearly that was good enough for him because he banished the vines which had bound me and cut Bastian free too.
“Follow us,” he commanded, taking Mirelle’s hand and leading us from the room.
The Wolf followed at our backs and I gave him a dark smile as I looked over my shoulder. “If you plan on stabbing me in the back, I suggest you make sure your aim is good, mutt,” I said. “Because I’ll spill your guts across the dirt before you can so much as attempt a second strike.”
“We’re allies now,” he replied, lifting his chin. “Don’t forget it.”
I snorted dismissively and focused on following Lazarus and Mirelle down a long, stone passageway.
The magpie on Mirelle’s shoulder was scowling at me every step of the way. It seemed ridiculous to think such a thing of a bird but it was even ruffling its feathers as if in judgement of my every move.
Bastian prowled along at my side, ducking his head where the roof of the passage proved too low for him. His hand brushed against mine, fingers curling around my palm in a brief squeeze before releasing me again.
I’m here, that squeeze said.
Me too, my own grip replied.
We exchanged a brief glance then looked ahead once more. Whatever awaited us, we would face it together.
Lazarus led us past a cluster of guards who all kept their faces turned from me stoically, making certain they wouldn’t be struck by my allure.
I couldn’t help but let my eyes roam over every detail I could glean of this place, taking note of everything even though I doubted I would ever speak a word of it to those I’d sworn my allegiance to.
The passages we walked through were nothing but bare rock, the only thing to note about them the reddish quality of the stone so I supposed there would be little I could report regardless.
Finally, Lazarus opened an iron door which had been set into the stone itself, both he and Mirelle using their magic to unlock it.